For over a decade, families in central Russia wondered what happened to young couple Ilya Zhirnov, 25, and Kira Cherkasova, 22, who vanished in December 2005. Their car never returned home, and the case went cold—until 2017, when a diver discovered a submerged vehicle in the Volga River.
Authorities recovered the car and confirmed the couple’s identities. Investigators believe icy roads caused the car to slide into the river, ending the long mystery with the tragic conclusion of a fatal accident.
After twelve years of uncertainty, their families finally found closure, able to honor Ilya and Kira’s memory and lay them to rest.
